2017 U.S. SYNCHRONIZED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOVICE Back row (l-r) Skyliners Sophia Lamb, Amie Adjakple, Jillian Belluck, Jillian Saloma Judey DaRos, Elizabeth Essaid, Natasha Witz, Shirley Zhu; middle row (l-r) Kristen Tse, Lucy
Potter, Mia Sparks, Caitlyn Chapey, Rachel Cortese, Emmy Sloan, Alyssa Politoski Juliette Lipson; front row (l-r) Jocelyn Song, Melissa Woo, Gracie Ossorio, Meghan Schaefer, Jolie Golden, Ethne Laude; not pictured, Mary Ashley Mendik
‘A
ENDING’ Skyliners earn first
novice title BY KYLEIGH GAFF
Performing their King Arthur, medie-
val-themed free skate, the Skyliners (SC of New York) emerged as champions for the first time at the novice level. Te Skyliners generated 75.93 points,
with their circle and wheel elements garner- ing Level 4 marks, and positive grades of execution received across the board. “It was the storybook ending that we
hoped for,” coach Natalie Martello said. “When you skate last at nationals, it is a huge culmination of the season and you just pray that you come through in that one perfor- mance. We have never won a novice title for Skyliners, so our girls are excited to not only be on the podium, but to be on top of it.” Sophia Lamb, breathless as she stepped off the ice, was left nearly speechless after hearing the scores. “We are so proud of ourselves and our
teammates,” Lamb said. “It felt like we were on top of the world. We never have skated that well together and it felt that all of our dreams were coming true by accomplishing something so big.” Te Crystallettes (Dearborn FSC)
secured the silver medal with a season-best score of 71.53. Teir free skate set to music from Te Lion King, received the highest lev- els on their circle, wheel and move element. After a rough practice the day before,
coach Holly Malewski was unsure of what would happen during the competition. “If you would have seen the official
practice we had yesterday, this skate would have given you chills,” Malewski said. “One of the girl’s skates had three of the screws come out of the heel and she had to come out of the perfor- mance for the official practice, so today it was beyond rewarding to see them perform so well.”
Te Ice Mates (Hayden Recreation Cen-
tre FSC) claimed the bronze medal with their performance to music from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Having two falls in their intersection
and gaining Level 4s on their circle and wheel elements, coach Ashley Tomich reflected back on how they fought through. “I think they did a really nice job,” To- mich said. “Tere were a few mistakes in one element, but overall I think everything else was just like we practiced and they did a nice job pulling through.” “It was so much fun,” skater Kathryn
Jones said. “Tat was by far my most favorite program to skate because of the energy level throughout the entire program.” Te Starlights (Skokie Valley SC) hula danced their way in a Hawaiian-themed program to earn the pewter medal with 62.56 points.
STORYBOOK
SKATING 21
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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